A fabric spec sheet tells you what the cloth is and how it will behave. The fields that matter most are fiber, denier or weight, width, weave, coating and finish. Read those six and you can compare any two fabrics on this site against each other.
The fields that matter
| Field | What it tells you | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber | Nylon, polyester, acrylic, cotton — the base behaviour | Strength vs UV vs absorbency differ by fiber |
| Denier / weight | Yarn thickness or fabric weight class | Not a strength grade on its own |
| Width | How wide the piece is, affects yardage and panel count | May include selvage; can vary by roll |
| Weave | Plain, twill, basket, ripstop, mesh | Determines tear behaviour and face |
| Coating | PU, PVC, none — drives water behaviour | Coated ≠ waterproof |
| Finish | DWR, water repellent, none | Wears off and can be revived |
How to read them together
- Fiber + weave set the mechanical behaviour: how it handles abrasion, tearing and load.
- Coating + finish set the water behaviour — never assume it from the fiber or denier.
- Width changes your yardage math: wider fabric means fewer panels and less waste.
- Weight/denier tells you the class, but compare it only within the same fiber and weave.
What is often missing
Fabric weight in oz/yd², exact fiber ratios, and country of origin are not always published. If a spec matters to your project and isn’t listed, ask before ordering — we’ll confirm it rather than guess.